Skip to the text

Psalms · Bible in Basic English

Psalm 37 Bible in Basic English

Leer en español
About BBE
  • Scholarly edition
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew (not verified)
  • NT: Critical text (not verified)
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Simplified language
  • 1965
  • Public domain

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

Notes on this text (1)
BBE Bible in Basic English
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 Of David. Do not be angry because of the wrongdoers, or have envy of the workers of evil.
1 By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.
2 For they will quickly be cut down like grass, and become dry like the green plants.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb.
3 Have faith in the Lord, and do good; be at rest in the land, and go after righteousness.
3 Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
4 So will your delight be in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires.
4 Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Put your life in the hands of the Lord; have faith in him and he will do it.
5 Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this:
6 And he will make your righteousness be seen like the light, and your cause like the shining of the sun.
6 he will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun.
7 Take your rest in the Lord, waiting quietly for him; do not be angry because of the man who does well in his evil ways, and gives effect to his bad designs.
7 Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.
8 Put an end to your wrath and be no longer bitter; do not give way to angry feeling which is a cause of sin.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For the evil-doers will be cut off: but those who have faith in the Lord will have the earth for their heritage.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land.
10 For in a short time the evil-doer will be gone: you will go searching for his place, and it will not be there.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there.
11 But the gentle will have the earth for their heritage; they will take their delight in peace without measure.
11 But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The sinner has evil designs against the upright, lifting up the voice of wrath against him.
12 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 He will be laughed at by the Lord, who sees that his day is coming.
13 The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming.
14 The evil-doers have taken out their swords, their bows are bent; for crushing the poor, and to put to death those who are upright in their ways.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path.
15 But their swords will be turned into their hearts, and their bows will be broken.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken.
16 The little which the good man has is better than the wealth of evil-doers.
16 Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the evil-doers will be broken: but the Lord is the support of the good.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh upholds the righteous.
18 The days of the upright are numbered by the Lord, and their heritage will be for ever.
18 Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They will not be shamed in the evil time, and in the days when all are in need of food they will have enough.
19 They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wrongdoers will come to destruction, and the haters of the Lord will be like the fat of lambs, they will be burned up; they will go up in smoke, and never again be seen.
20 But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish— vanish like smoke.
21 The sinner takes money and does not give it back; but the upright man has mercy, and gives to others.
21 The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.
22 Those who have his blessing will have the earth for their heritage; but those who are cursed by him will be cut off.
22 For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he takes delight in his way.
23 A man’s steps are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way.
24 Even if he has a fall he will not be without help: for the hand of the Lord is supporting him.
24 Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old, but I have not seen the good man without help, or his children looking for bread.
25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.
26 All the day he is ready to have mercy and to give; his children are a blessing.
26 All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.
27 Be turned from evil, and do good; and your place will be for ever.
27 Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.
28 For the Lord is a lover of righteousness, and takes care of his saints; they will be kept safe for ever; but the seed of the evil-doers will be cut off.
28 For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The upright will have the earth for their heritage, and will go on living there for ever.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.
30 The mouth of the good man says words of wisdom; the talk of his tongue is of righteousness.
30 The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; he will never make a false step.
31 The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.
32 The sinners are watching the upright man, desiring to put him to death.
32 The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to kill him.
33 The Lord will not give him into their hands, or be against him when he is judged.
33 Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Be waiting for the Lord, and keep his way; and you will be lifted up, and have the land for your heritage: when the evil-doers are cut off, you will see it.
34 Wait for Yahweh, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35 I have seen the evil-doer in great power, covering the earth like a great tree.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
36 But he came to an end, and there was no sign of him; I made a search for him and he was not there.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Give attention to the good man, and take note of the upright; because the end of that man is peace.
37 Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But as for the sinners, they will be cut off together; the end of the wrongdoers is destruction.
38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the Lord is the saviour of the upright: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 And the Lord will be their help, and keep them safe: he will take them out of the hands of the evil-doers, and be their saviour, because they had faith in him.
40 Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him.
Cross references (40)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 Psalm 37:7; Proverbs 23:17; Proverbs 24:19; Proverbs 3:31; Proverbs 24:1
  2. 2 Psalm 92:7; Psalm 90:5–6; James 1:10–11; Psalm 37:35–36; Job 14:2
  3. 3 Jeremiah 17:7–8; Matthew 6:31–33; Psalm 62:8; 1 Corinthians 15:57–58; Psalm 34:9–10
  4. 4 John 15:7; Psalm 145:19; John 15:16; Isaiah 58:14; 1 John 5:14–15
  5. 5 Proverbs 16:3; 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6–7; Matthew 6:25; Psalm 55:22
  6. 6 Isaiah 54:17; Job 11:17; Isaiah 58:8; Micah 7:8–9; Matthew 13:43
  7. 7 James 5:7–11; Psalm 27:14; Psalm 62:5; Hebrews 10:36–37; Lamentations 3:25–26
  8. 8 Proverbs 14:29; Proverbs 16:32; James 1:19–20; Ephesians 4:31; Ephesians 4:26
  9. 9 Isaiah 60:21; Psalm 25:13; Proverbs 2:21; Psalm 37:29; Isaiah 57:13
  10. 10 Job 24:24; 1 Peter 4:7; Psalm 37:35–36; Psalm 107:42–43; Psalm 103:16
  11. 11 Matthew 5:5; Galatians 5:22–23; Isaiah 26:3; James 3:13; Psalm 119:165
  12. 12 Psalm 35:16; Micah 2:1; Daniel 8:12; Psalm 31:13; Matthew 26:16
  13. 13 Psalm 2:4; Proverbs 1:26; Daniel 5:26; 1 Samuel 26:10; Ezekiel 21:25
  14. 14 Proverbs 29:27; Psalm 11:2; 1 John 3:12; Proverbs 29:10; Psalm 64:2–6
  15. 15 Psalm 7:14–15; Psalm 35:8; Hosea 2:18; 1 Samuel 31:4; Jeremiah 51:56
  16. 16 Proverbs 16:8; Proverbs 15:16–17; 1 Timothy 6:6; Proverbs 13:25; Proverbs 3:33
  17. 17 Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 63:8; Psalm 145:14; Isaiah 42:1; Psalm 37:24
  18. 18 Psalm 1:6; Psalm 103:17; Romans 6:23; 2 Timothy 2:19; Revelation 11:3–5
  19. 19 Psalm 33:19; Proverbs 10:3; Job 5:20–22; Isaiah 33:16; Amos 5:13
  20. 20 Psalm 68:2; Psalm 102:3; Luke 13:3; Deuteronomy 33:14–16; Judges 5:31
  21. 21 Hebrews 13:16; Psalm 112:5; Proverbs 22:7; Psalm 112:9; Luke 6:30
  22. 22 Proverbs 3:33; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Psalm 37:9; Psalm 37:28; Psalm 37:11
  23. 23 Proverbs 16:9; Psalm 119:133; Proverbs 4:26; 1 Samuel 2:9; Psalm 40:2
  24. 24 Proverbs 24:16; Psalm 145:14; Psalm 94:18; Micah 7:7–8; John 10:27–30
  25. 25 Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 37:28; Psalm 25:13; Psalm 112:2; 1 Samuel 12:22
  26. 26 Psalm 112:5; Psalm 37:21; Matthew 5:7; Jeremiah 32:39; Deuteronomy 15:8–10
  27. 27 Psalm 34:14; Proverbs 16:6; 1 John 2:16–17; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; Hebrews 13:16
  28. 28 Proverbs 2:22; Psalm 11:7; Psalm 21:10; Isaiah 59:21; 1 Peter 1:5
  29. 29 Proverbs 2:21; Psalm 37:9; 2 Peter 3:13; Psalm 37:11; Psalm 37:18
  30. 30 Colossians 4:6; Proverbs 25:11–13; Proverbs 15:7; Ephesians 4:29; Matthew 12:35
  31. 31 Psalm 40:8; Deuteronomy 6:6; Isaiah 51:7; Psalm 119:11; Jeremiah 31:33
  32. 32 Jeremiah 20:10; Luke 14:1; Luke 20:20; Psalm 10:8–10; Luke 19:47–48
  33. 33 Psalm 109:31; 2 Peter 2:9; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:33–34; 2 Timothy 4:17
  34. 34 Psalm 27:14; Proverbs 20:22; Psalm 37:9; Matthew 24:13; Psalm 52:5–6
  35. 35 Job 5:3; Psalm 73:3–11; Job 21:7–17; Ezekiel 31:6–10; Isaiah 14:14–19
  36. 36 Psalm 37:10; Acts 12:22–23; Isaiah 10:16–19; Exodus 15:19; Isaiah 10:33–34
  37. 37 Isaiah 32:17; Isaiah 57:1–2; 2 Timothy 4:6–8; Acts 7:59–60; Job 42:12–17
  38. 38 Proverbs 14:32; Psalm 52:5; Matthew 13:49–50; 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9; Psalm 1:4–6
  39. 39 Psalm 9:9; Psalm 91:15; Isaiah 12:2; Psalm 3:8; 2 Timothy 4:17
  40. 40 Isaiah 31:5; Daniel 3:17; 1 Chronicles 5:20; Isaiah 46:4; Daniel 3:28

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Commentary Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Psalms (Psalm XXXVI)

    "The ungodly hath said in himself that he will sin: there is no fear of God before his eyes" (ver. 1). Not of one man, but of a race of ungodly men he speaketh, who fight against their own selves, by not understanding, that so they may live well; not because they cannot, but because they will not.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)

  2. Quotes verse 37:23 Augustine of Hippo, Confessions (Book V, Chapters VII–VIII)

    It was Thou, O my God, who didst it, for the steps of a man are ordered by the Lord, and He shall dispose his way. Or how can we procure salvation but from Thy hand, remaking what it hath made?

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)

  3. Quotes verse 37:11 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew (Homily XV)

    And besides, since in the Old Testament the prophet used to say continually, "The meek shall inherit the earth;" He thus weaves into His discourse the words to which they were accustomed, so as not everywhere to speak a strange language.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)

  4. Quotes verse 37:4 Basil of Caesarea, Hexaemeron (Homily VIII)

    "Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desire of thine heart." Do you love riches?

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)

  5. Quotes verse 37:11 Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament (Sermon XXXI)

    … saith, "Great peace have they who love Thy law, and nothing is an offence to them." To this sentiment also agrees the passage which we have chanted in course; "But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Because, "great peace have they who love Thy law." For these "meek" ones are they …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)